Artificial Sweetener

There has been a lot of misinformation out there about the use of artificial sweetener's during pregnancy so I decided to share the actual fact on it. Found via: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificialsweetner.htm

The following are non-nutritive sweeteners that are considered safe
during pregnancy:

Rebaudioside A: (Stevia)
This is a new and common sweetner that is frequently used in soft drinks
and juices. The FDA deems Stevia as safe during pregnancy; it has been
give the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) rating by the FDA.

Acesulfame Potassium: (Sunett)
This sweetener is added to baked goods, frozen desserts, sugar free
gelatins, puddings and beverages. Acesulfame Potassium has been deemed
safe to use in moderation during pregnancy by the FDA.

Aspartame: (Equal or NutraSweet)
Aspartame is not effective in heat nor for long periods in
liquid form. It is often found as an additive to soft drinks, gelatin,
desserts, pudding mixes, breakfast cereals, beverages, chewing gum,
dairy products, and other foods and drugs. According to the Food and
Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy
and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate
level.

Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic
disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high
levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component
of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has
these conditions.

Sucralose: (Splenda) This is non-caloric
sweetener that is made from sugar. Sucralose has been approved for
use in baked goods, baking mixes, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing
gum, coffee and tea products, confections and frostings, fats and
oils, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, fruit juices, sugar substitutes,
sweet sauces, toppings and syrups. It can also be used as â€œtable-top
sweetener.â€ Sucralose has no effect on blood sugar, offers no
calories, and is deemed safe during pregnancy and lactation. According
to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sucralose is safe for everyone
to consume, including pregnant women.

What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy?

Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although
it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many
foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin
to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had
linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have
been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show
that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so
its use for pregnant women still remains in question.

Cyclamate: This sweetener has been linked to cancer and
is currently banned in the United States. Cyclamate is not
considered safe for anyone including pregnant women.

There has been a lot of misinformation out there about the use of artificial sweetener's during pregnancy so I decided to share the actual fact on it. Found via: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificialsweetner.htm

The following are non-nutritive sweeteners that are considered safe
during pregnancy:

Rebaudioside A: (Stevia)
This is a new and common sweetner that is frequently used in soft drinks
and juices. The FDA deems Stevia as safe during pregnancy; it has been
give the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) rating by the FDA.

Acesulfame Potassium: (Sunett)
This sweetener is added to baked goods, frozen desserts, sugar free
gelatins, puddings and beverages. Acesulfame Potassium has been deemed
safe to use in moderation during pregnancy by the FDA.

Aspartame: (Equal or NutraSweet)
Aspartame is not effective in heat nor for long periods in
liquid form. It is often found as an additive to soft drinks, gelatin,
desserts, pudding mixes, breakfast cereals, beverages, chewing gum,
dairy products, and other foods and drugs. According to the Food and
Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy
and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate
level.

Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic
disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high
levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component
of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has
these conditions.

Sucralose: (Splenda) This is non-caloric
sweetener that is made from sugar. Sucralose has been approved for
use in baked goods, baking mixes, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing
gum, coffee and tea products, confections and frostings, fats and
oils, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, fruit juices, sugar substitutes,
sweet sauces, toppings and syrups. It can also be used as â€œtable-top
sweetener.â€ Sucralose has no effect on blood sugar, offers no
calories, and is deemed safe during pregnancy and lactation. According
to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sucralose is safe for everyone
to consume, including pregnant women.

What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy?

Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although
it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many
foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin
to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had
linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have
been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show
that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so
its use for pregnant women still remains in question.

Cyclamate: This sweetener has been linked to cancer and
is currently banned in the United States. Cyclamate is not
considered safe for anyone including pregnant women.

Thanks for the info! I've always read Splenda is safe, so that's what I always use. Nutrasweet gives me a headache. I've been using Stevia now too, now that it's in more things. I'm glad those two are safe during pregnancy.

Thanks for the info! I've always read Splenda is safe, so that's what I always use. Nutrasweet gives me a headache. I've been using Stevia now too, now that it's in more things. I'm glad those two are safe during pregnancy.

Thank you so much for this info. It irritates me to no end how paranoid people are about artificial sweeteners. There is a lot of fear mongering about it which makes preggos terrified to drink a diet coke or chew gum. It's absolutely ridiculous!

Thank you so much for this info. It irritates me to no end how paranoid people are about artificial sweeteners. There is a lot of fear mongering about it which makes preggos terrified to drink a diet coke or chew gum. It's absolutely ridiculous!

I was told right after I found out not to have artificial sweeteners. So I have been paranoid about them sense. The other night I got a juice at my sister and it tasted funny to me. It had aspartame in it. I Freaked out about it that night. I'm so happy I read this. I won't worry about it as much. Thank you!

I was told right after I found out not to have artificial sweeteners. So I have been paranoid about them sense. The other night I got a juice at my sister and it tasted funny to me. It had aspartame in it. I Freaked out about it that night. I'm so happy I read this. I won't worry about it as much. Thank you!

Hmm research them all extensively and you'll find a lot of info that tells you most are not safe for anyone, anytime. Why do you think most things containing some have warning labels, like all gum and zero cal soda products. They don't just have a laxative effect. Just saying trust your own research/experiments and see which people/companies have these web sites, find some unbiased ones.

Hmm research them all extensively and you'll find a lot of info that tells you most are not safe for anyone, anytime. Why do you think most things containing some have warning labels, like all gum and zero cal soda products. They don't just have a laxative effect. Just saying trust your own research/experiments and see which people/companies have these web sites, find some unbiased ones.

The FDA and the American pregnancy association is not biased dearies...If there was a significant risk they would say so. Especially in this lawsuit happy world. Furthermore if there was a significant scientific link to all the horrible things artificial sweeteners are supposed to lead to they would be pulled by the FDA. Most sweeteners have been around since before we were born. However, it is a personal decision that should be made by you and your doctor. :)

The FDA and the American pregnancy association is not biased dearies...If there was a significant risk they would say so. Especially in this lawsuit happy world. Furthermore if there was a significant scientific link to all the horrible things artificial sweeteners are supposed to lead to they would be pulled by the FDA. Most sweeteners have been around since before we were born. However, it is a personal decision that should be made by you and your doctor. :)

I totally agree. I do not trust the FDA.Afterall they did approve saccharine as well as thalidamide and we all see how well that worked out. Most of these sweeteners have only been on the market for 1-2 decades. Not long enough for me. Plus IMO they all taste funny. I'd rather moderate my intake of sugar and excecise rather than eating the chemically altered stuff. To each their own...

I totally agree. I do not trust the FDA.Afterall they did approve saccharine as well as thalidamide and we all see how well that worked out. Most of these sweeteners have only been on the market for 1-2 decades. Not long enough for me. Plus IMO they all taste funny. I'd rather moderate my intake of sugar and excecise rather than eating the chemically altered stuff. To each their own...

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